UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley (19-3-1) scored a convincing victory with a second-round submission win over English challenger Darren Till (17-1-1) at UFC 228 in Dallas yesterday evening.
Till took the centre of the octagon and looked for openings, but it was Woodley landing some early feeling-out strikes and landing a brief single-leg takedown. Till tried to do the same in the second round, but got caught with a right hand that sent him scrambling on the canvas. Woodley swarmed and finally secured a D’Arce choke that forced referee Dan Miragliotta to call the bout at 4:19.
Woodley has now defended the belt for the fourth time and took the time to offer some encouraging words to Till after the bout.
“I was 10-0 when I fought for my first world title. I wouldn’t be here without that loss.”
“We all have to lose at some point, don’t we?” @TWooodley & @DarrenTill2 show massive #respect to each other backstage. #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/VxoQksMQMz
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
Woodley and Jessica Andrade earned performances of the night, while the fight of the night went to female bantamweights Irene Aldana and Lucie Pudilova. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
GEOFF NEAL VS. FRANK CAMACHO
OH MY! #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/swZFVamV2r
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: GEOFF NEAL VIA KO (HEAD KICK) R2 1:23
ANDREWS PREDICTION: GEOFF NEAL VIA TKO
Andrews: Geoff Neal got the job done before Camacho could punish him. Excellent win.
ROBERTO SANCHEZ VS. JARRED BROOKS
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1038559064739827713
WINNER: JARRED BROOKS VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ROBERTO SANCHEZ VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Not a barnburner of a fight, but Brooks did well enough to grind out the win.
#12 IRENE ALDANA VS. #13 LUCIE PUDILOVA
Flashing the speed early 👊@IreneAldana_ #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/dskVBWsfIx
— UFC (@ufc) September 8, 2018
WINNER: IRENE ALDANA VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: IRENE ALDANA VIA SD
Andrews: Another typical narrow win for Aldana. Good fight.
JIM MILLER VS. ALEX WHITE
TURNING BACK THE CLOCK! #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/kyXvDzuxT7
— UFC (@ufc) September 8, 2018
WINNER: JIM MILLER VIA SUBMISSION (REAR NAKED CHOKE) R1 1:29
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALEX WHITE VIA UD
Andrews: Miller gets the big win! Well done.
DIEGO SANCHEZ VS. CRAIG WHITE
THE NIGHTMARE!@DiegoSanchezUFC #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/LrHLgnFlgI
— UFC (@ufc) September 8, 2018
WINNER: DIEGO SANCHEZ VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DIEGO SANCHEZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Sanchez didn’t knock out White, but he did the next best thing. It was a mistake to provoke Diego at the weigh-ins.
TSN 2 PRELIMS
CHARLES BYRD VS. DARREN STEWART
THE DENTIST!@Darren_MMA silences the Dallas crowd! #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/GIwD60VgXs
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: DARREN STEWART VIA TKO (ELBOWS AND PUNCHES) R2 2:17
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CHARLES BYRD VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Stewart got to Byrd before he could do his thing on the ground.
#5 JIMMIE RIVERA VS. #7 JOHN DODSON
WINNER: JIMMIE RIVERA VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JIMMIE RIVERA VIA UD
Andrews: Rivera neutralized the speed of Dodson nicely. It might be time for Dodson to hang them up.
#8 ALJAMAIN STERLING VS. #10 CODY STAMANN
Brought the FUNK! #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/GCIgr0sLjq
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: ALJAMAIN STERLING VIA SUBMISSION (KNEEBAR) R2 3:42
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ALJAMAIN STERLING VIA UD
Andrews: What a performance by Sterling. It’s not everyday you see a kneebar submission.
#6 CARLA ESPARZA VS. #9 TATIANA SUAREZ
Calling out the champ!
Is a title shot next? #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/2JZuuQxMmv
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: TATIANA SUAREZ VIA TKO (PUNCHES AND ELBOWS) R3 4:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TATIANA SUAREZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Esparza is tough, but too small for the division. It’s time for Carla to call it a career.
MAIN CARD
ABDUL RAZAK ALHASSAN VS. NIKO PRICE
HE'S A BAAAAAAAAAD MAN! @JudoRazak #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/aAHaUO9O2a
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: ABDUK RAZAK ALHASSAN VIA TKO R1 0:43
ANDREWS PREDICTION: NIKO PRICE VIA UD
Andrews: He did it again! I should have been a believer before, but I am now.
#2 JESSICA ANDRADE VS. #4 KAROLINA KOWALKIEWICZ
ON THE ATTACK!@JessicaMMApro comes out SWINGING! #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/9FZ7Xcwm60
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: JESSICA ANDRADE VIA TKO R1 1:58
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JESSICA ANDRADE VIA UD
Andrews: Kowalkiewicz needs to develop some power as her speed and footwork are not enough against the top of the division.
#15 ZABIT MAGOMEDSHARIPOV VS. BRANDON DAVIS
THERE'S THE TAP!@Zabit_MMA notches his fourth Octagon victory! #UFC228 pic.twitter.com/iSuINpVGJV
— UFC (@ufc) September 9, 2018
WINNER: ZABIT MAGOMEDSHARIPOV VIA SUBMISSION (KNEEBAR) R2 3:46
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ZABIT MAGOMEDSHARIPOV VIA UD
Andrews: Zabit’s creativity continues to grow. Another entertaining win.
MAIN EVENT
TYRON WOODLEY VS. #2 DARREN TILL
WINNER: TYRON WOODLEY VIA SUBMISSION (D’ARCE CHOKE) R2 4:19
ANDREWS PREDICTION: TYRON WOODLEY VIA UD
Andrews: Woodley was still careful but more aggressive and took care of the business when he landed the right hand. Good win.
